Sky’s The Limit for Charleston’s Latest Waterfront Brainstorm

While standing on the end of Waterfront Park’s long pier outfitted with picnic tables and wooden swings and looking north to the shoreline just a few hundred feet away, you will see rising six stories into Charleston’s steeple-dotted skyline the city’s latest mega-complex. It will be comparative to Charleston Place with one distinctive difference, it will be home to the only luxury hotel on the historic French Quarter waterfront.

Carnival ships, Ecstasy and Sunshine, dominated this view when they were in port. The scene is changing. December 30 will be the final cruise to set sail from Charleston for the Bahamas. Say goodbye to the Carnival Cruise line and say hello to the soon-to-open Cooper Hotel.

The historic district of Charleston was anything but historic before the 1980s, and King Street was a real estate of empty storefronts. Something needed to happen to rekindle the historical flame that once burned in this cosmopolitan coastal port city. Joe Riley began the construction of Charleston Place and set in motion the beginning of the city’s revival. Charleston was back on the map as a travel destination.

The Cooper complex is slated as “the first extraordinary step in the reimagining of Charleston’s storied waterfront.” Its diverse amenity offerings are world class, and like Charleston Place, will be open to residents, visitors, and world travelers wanting to experience the charm and hospitality of Charleston’s commercially and recreationally welcoming spirit.

The Cooper’s amenities will include a ground-floor retail space with boutique shops, a 12,000 square-foot full-service spa and fitness center, and a nearly 20,000 square-foot event space. Its four restaurants will consist of a waterfront diner, coffee shop, seafood restaurant, and a rooftop lounge with a dedicated public elevator with entrance from the park. The rooftop bar will be enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass doors and overlook both the Arthur Ravenel bridge to the left and the waterfront park’s pineapple fountain to the right.

The hotel will have a compliment of 191 accommodations with options to choose sun-bathed guest rooms and suites with waterfront views of the harbor. Room-paying guests will be able to lounge around or swim in the hotel’s jaw dropping outdoor infinity-edge pool, also overlooking the waterfront. It is proclaimed as one the best pool experiences in the Southeast, possibly rivaling anything on the East Coast. The pool will have its own bar.

The Cooper’s green space along the waterfront will be integrated with the Joe Riley Waterfront Park, extending the park’s pathway beginning at the north entrance on Concord Street over 400 feet to the Fleet Landing Restaurant and Bar at Cumberland Street. As part of the extension, there will be a new dock and marina facility, which will allow for boat dockage.

The Cooper Hotel will have three different boats available for its hotel guests including a yacht for dinners and events, as well as a water taxi service to Daniel Island. Guests in BHC-affiliated locations, like the Charleston Place, will also have access to the boats.

Uneventful and seldom traveled Concord Street between Cumberland and Vendue Range will soon be transformed into a mecca of five-star accommodations and world-class amenities with the opening of the Cooper Hotel complex in late 2025. It will exponentially change the French Quarter waterfront in an excellent way. I, for one, look forward to soaking in the waterfront views through the rooftop bar’s floor-to-ceiling glass doors sipping on one of its signature cocktails. Who knows, I just might book a room just to take a swim in its jaw dropping outdoor infinity-edge pool.

Charleston's Preeminent Luxury Boutique Hotel--Ghostbusters Welcomed

Battery Carriage House Inn 2018

The house sits in one of the most visited areas of Charleston. Hundreds of picture-taking tourists stroll past its black wrought iron fences and broad porches on a daily basis. Caravans of horse-drawn carriages filled with visitors pause in front of it everyday while animated guides mesmerize them with stories explaining the mystique and grandeur that oozes from its windows and doors. Cataclysms of the destructive kind have befallen it. Owners have showered it with renovations. Its place of abidance is its name, 20 South Battery.

As you view the house today, while standing on the fringes of White Point Gardens, it would be difficult to imagine when first built, it had a front-row view of the Charleston Harbor. The year was 1843, the builder was broker Samuel N. Stevens. The main home and carriage house reflected the prosperity that was prevalent in South Carolina during this era.

In the Civil War beginning 1863, the house survived the longest bombardment of a civilian population in the history of warfare. Though severely battered, the structure remained intact. Colonel Lathers of the Union Army purchased the property in 1870. He hired John Henry Devereaux, a well-known Charleston architect, to renovate the house in the New York fashion of the time. A mansard roof was added, which housed a library. A new ballroom was also constructed.

The Simonds family purchased and lived in the house until 1912. In the 1920's, the rear outbuilding was converted into a "motor court" by the Pringle Family and the once-private residence became a more recognizable place of hospitality. Its newly rentable rooms for the most part catered to a patronage of rowdy and carousing sailors of the United States Navy and during the 1960's college students.

Famous Charlestonian Drayton Hastie and his wife purchased 20 South Battery in the 1980's and restored it to a Charleston Historic District hotel. The main house was the Hastie's private residence and they opened the rooms in the carriage house to guests. The well known Battery Carriage House Inn came to host a clientele of more than just paying guests. During the ensuing years, the inn would become known as the most haunted hotel in downtown Charleston.

Reportedly, it's home to several ghosts. While the owners have never seen the otherworldly inhabitants themselves, guests and employees have had some odd encounters. Curiosity seekers would bring all kinds of equipment and light meters and heat meters and set up cameras in the rooms hoping to catch a glimpse of anything out of the ordinary. Room 3 is known for a couple's cellphone waking them up making a loud and odd noise even though it was shut off. They witnessed glowing shapes floating about the room the nights they stayed at the inn. Room 8 is the most ominous of the rooms. One visitor was waken by a disturbance and confronted by a headless torso. He decided to reach out to touch the lumbering spirit, only to retract his hand upon hearing it let out an animalistic growl, which is odd in itself, seeing it had no head, thus no mouth. Room 10 is occupied by The Gentleman Ghost, known for graciously sharing his room with any and all comers. It is described as a grayish shadow, average height and build, and tends to glide about the room rather stylishly. It likes to recline in the bed with the patrons, minus any hanky-panky.

Hurricane Hugo struck on September 21, 1989 producing the highest storm tides ever recorded on the East Coast, causing catastrophic damage to homes along the water, 20 South Battery included. It continued to be a favorite haunting stop for walking tours and horse-drawn carriages. The stories persisted and its haunting fame continued to grow.

Dr. Jack Schaeffer purchased the inn in 2018 with passion and an intent for restoring and maintaining historical integrity. The property has undergone extensive preservation efforts in a labor of love revitalizing it to its former grandeur. On September 10th, 2020, Dr. Schaeffer and the staff unveiled 20 South Battery hotel to their first guests.

20 South Battery today with haint blue porch ceilings

The luxury boutique hotel is the home of unique and rare antiques from all over the world and various different time periods, some dating back to the 1500's. The Grand Ballroom has gold leaf trim surrounding a metal tile ceiling with a skylight and crystal chandeliers. The Grand Parlor showcases bright red antique furniture contrasting the white walls. A spiral staircase runs up all four stories of the home. One of the oldest pieces in the house is the decorative handrail. The original Italian Mosaic tile flooring was restored piece by piece. Crown molding and marble fireplaces are unique to each space. Metal tile ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and antique sconces are also a common element throughout the home.

The Concierge Level in the mansion features the Lathers, Pringles and Simonds Suites. The Stevens Suite is located on the ground floor and faces White Point Gardens. The Devereux Suite is the former cistern and wine cellar. Blacklock-Ravenel King Room is located on the first floor. The Battery Carriage House has suites on the first floor and rooms on the second floor. Originally built as a private residence for $4,500, Handsome Properties listed it on the market in 2017 for $4,250,000. It is worth far more than that now.

Dr. Jack Schaeffer apparently has embraced the stories that have become a part of his beautiful hotel. He seems to know them well as seen in the following video by CountOn2.

Just how the apparitions feel about their upgraded surroundings, you will have to reserve one of the rooms and ask them. The headless torso may be speechless for obvious reasons.

Battery Carriage House Room

Enjoy the Ghostbuster Package-Prepare for a Ghostly Adventure at 20 South Battery and Charleston! Built in 1843, 20 South Battery has seen its share of reported friendly ghost encounters. This experience is for you if "You ain't afraid of no ghost!"

PACKAGE INCLUDES: "Ghostbusters of Charleston" souvenir book. Stay in the reported haunted room 8 or 10 (based on availability)2 tickets to a walking ghost tour with our friends at Bulldog Tours

A Charleston Bed And Breakfast Where You Can Smell The History--Govenor's House Inn

In this part of Charleston, you can smell the history as distinctly as the city's Confederate Jasmine. Its distinguished aroma trickles down through the dense overhead canopy of green leaves that dangle from the entangled branches of the areas antiquated oaks and permeates the wood, brick, and iron of the elegant estates and charming residences lining the old streets. Its odor is as overpowering as the yellowish liquid sometimes left on the concrete surfaces by the numerous horse drawn carriages that frequently pass by. This part of Charleston is the highly traveled and visited neighborhoods of the downtown quarter slightly south of Broad Street.

The various bed and breakfasts located throughout the Lower Peninsula of Charleston offer the discerning traveler an opportunity to bath their imaginations in the soul of Charleston's enchanting history. One place you may want to consider to do that is the Govenor's House Inn. It dates back to the colonial years of the 1700's when the Holy city was called Charles Towne and has a connection to a well-known Charleston family.

While staying at the Govenor's House Inn, some of the history you will smell is the fragrance of oranges. Built in 1760 by James Laurens, the traditional Georgian double house occupies a parcel of land that was at one time called the Orange Garden--a public garden used for concerts and other events in the late 1600's and early to mid-1700's, which--and this should be no surprise--also believed to have contained an orange grove.

Looking at the house from Broad Street, you will notice it is extremely symmetrical, which was a typical attribute of that style. Inside, there is a center stairway with large rooms on both sides, another characteristic of that design. During an extensive renovation in 1885 by then owner, Captain Wagener, a Victorian spiral staircase was added. Original interior features include heart of pine floors, fireplaces, triple-hung windows, and solid slate fireplaces located in the formal living and dining rooms. A portrait of Edward Rutledge hangs in the foyer.

Rutledge leased the home from James Laurens in 1776, the same year he signed the Declaration of Independence at the age of 27, and eventually purchased it in 1788. A copy of the Declaration of Independence hangs in the foyer with his portrait. He was married to Henrietta, a Charlestonian woman from the prominent Middleton’s.

The Govenor's House Inn is formidable in its length and breadth. On the first and second floor exterior, a spacious veranda porch runs the full length of the house on one side and wraps around to the back. A great space to catch a refreshing breeze, read a book, drink a glass of wine or just watch the comings and goings of eclectic Broad Street with the periodic horse drawn carriage passing by. Your own piece of relaxation on your visit to Charleston.

There are seven suites in the main house; two are on the terrace level, two suites in the Kitchen House, and all are elegantly appointed. Six have their own attached private porches and two have exterior entrances. There is no elevator service to the third floor where two suites are located. It offers breakfast and afternoon tea, wine and cheese. It is one of the only properties in downtown Charleston to offer complimentary onsite parking. Depending on the time of year, prices range from $236 to $360 winter and $408 to $508 summer. Check out the full list of amenities, special packages, and things to do.

The John Rutledge House Inn is across the street from the Govenor's House Inn. If you are looking for a pet friendly accommodation, it could be a consideration.

A Serene Bed And Breakfast Nestled Under The Moss Covered Trees Of Wentworth Street With A Ghost Story

I found this bed and breakfast while walking Wentworth Street toward beautiful Wentworth Mansion to take pictures. If it wasn't for its modest sign pinpointing its location, I would not have discovered it. Many of the houses in this part of Harleston Village on Wentworth Street are of comparable style built of brick, stucco, or clapboard, except for the few large mansions. 1837 Bed and Breakfast is a fine example of a Charleston single house one room wide with gable end to the street and tiered piazzas. It’s not known for a celebrated history, but like many homes in Charleston, it has an attention-grabbing but sad ghost story associated with it.

It was built by cotton planter Henry Cobia in the 1800's, and I am guessing more specifically 1837, but this is more implied than a stated fact. Henry Cobia is also credited with building the house at 128 Wentworth Street circa 1840. Built in the Federal-style, the house has three floors. It is accompanied by a two-story brick carriage/kitchen house. It was converted to a bed and breakfast in 1984.

The main house has a total of six guest rooms--three on the second and three on the third floor. Rooms on these floors entail walking up one or two flights of stairs. Each floor has open piazzas. Common rooms, such as the kitchen, dining room, and parlor are on the first floor.

Room 202

The carriage/kitchen house has two individual rooms on the ground floor with open beam ceilings and a one bedroom suite on the second floor, which is up one flight of spiral stairs and also has a small, private balcony. Originally separated from the main house as a safety precaution to protect it from accidental cooking fires, which was a common construction practice in the early years of Charleston, it was attached to the main house at the turn of the century.

Room 102

Each room is decorated with period furniture featuring queen canopy rice beds, armoires, local artwork, and oriental rugs. All rooms have private entrances and private baths. Amenities include cable TV in each room, free wireless internet service, and refrigerators. There is free one car per room on-site parking for small cars. A sumptuous, complimentary breakfast is prepared every morning and served starting at 8:30 am--for each days offerings go to daily breakfasts. It is reasonably priced with rooms ranging from $139 to $259 a night in the main house and $129 to $275 a night in the carriage house.

1837 is highly spoken of by most of its previous guests, but has one peculiarity--guests and employees have reported seeing a little boy playing around the halls, then disappearing from sight. The employees have affectionately named him, George. Now, some may view this as unsettling and others may view it as alluring, but according to the staff, apparently friendly George just engages in harmless mischief.

These are the sorrowful events that have become the supernatural story of 1837. Like many cotton planters, Henry Cobia owned slaves. During the 1830s, a male and female slave lived in a room on the third floor of the house along with their nine-year-old son. In 1843, due to financial difficulty, Cobia was forced to sell several of his slaves, which included the boy's parents. The next day, the little boy walked down to a dock on Charleston Bay and asked a man where his parents were taken. He was told that they had been transported to a ship that was currently docked in the middle of Charleston Harbor. Motivated by the hope that he might be reunited with his parents, the boy stole a rowboat and rowed in the direction of his parents' ship. All at once, the little boat capsized, and the boy drowned.

A concierge of the bed and breakfast states that George's mischief includes opening doors, rocking chairs and turning lights on and off. Most of the disturbances take the form of mattress shaking or the radio turns on in the middle of the night.

As described by the concierge and reported in an article by Dr. Alan Brown, a paranormal investigator, one of the funniest incidents at the 1837 Bed and Breakfast took place in May 2002: "We had a lady come down at breakfast, and she said, 'Did we have an earthquake last night?' And I said, 'I don't think so.' She said her bed was moving. I said, 'Was the chandelier moving too?' She said, 'No.' I said, 'Well, that's not an earthquake.' I didn't tell her about the ghost. Chances are that it was George acting up again. She asked me to call the earthquake people, and I did, and they said we didn't have an earthquake. She accused them of covering it up."

1837 Bed and Breakfast is the Charleston package made up of old southern charm with ghostly implications. It is located in a quiet area of the city, but not far from King Street and Charleston Place. According to most reviews, its staff is hospitable and attentive. It was awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015 and highlighted on History and Travel Channel. New York Times called it "A perfect place to unwind."


126 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 723-7166

One Man's Sold Dream Becomes Another Man's Great Gain--Wentworth Mansion

The Second Empire Style bricked behemoth, characterized by its mansard roof and dormers,
benevolently stands four stories above Charleston's intersecting streets of Wentworth and Smith. To get a complete photograph of the impressive mansion, I had to cross over to the other side of Wentworth and Smith where I took an angled shot for the best panorama. Beyond the mansion’s encircling black wrought iron enclosure, the beautifully landscaped grounds beckoned me to enter through its front gate. I accepted the enticement and stepped over the threshold into the present past.

Constructed by the finest artisans of the day, the nearly 24,000 square foot architectural treasure was completed just in time to have its infrastructure rocked and its constitution tested. In August of 1886, The Great Earthquake of Charleston struck with violent fury. While bricks rained down onto the streets of the Holy City, the magnificent Wentworth home of wealthy cotton merchant, Francis Silas Rodgers, emerged from the upheaval virtually unscathed. It is considered one of the finest homes in Charleston.

Francis Rodgers had a dream. Not the kind you conceive in your sleep and awaken from, but more along the lines of a concept. With a family of 13, Rodgers had envisioned that the mansion be used to live in by his children and their children. He employed architect Daniel G. Wayne to bring it to reality.

Rodgers spared no expense in the building of his lavish mansion. The exterior was covered in Philadelphia pressed brick and the windows and quoins were finished in stone. Interior features included inlaid floors, two grand matching Italian chandeliers from Europe, marble mantles carved by sculptor Emile T. Viett, elaborate wooden staircases, a double parlor, Louis Comfort Tiffany glass panels, and a rooftop cupola with panoramic views of the city. A bas-relief cornice above the dining room window depicts a cotton plant, representative of Rodgers' business.

In regards to the two commissioned grand matching chandeliers, which still hang today in the grand mansion suite, it is said Rodgers brought back their maker to ensure proper installation.

The family flourished, but 34 years later his heirs sold it for $100,000 to the Scottish Rite Cathedral Association, who in 1940, sold it to the Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Company. The insurance company used it as their office headquarters until 1996, when Richard Widman had a dream of his own, purchased the unappreciated mansion, and changed its destiny.

Widman renovated the mansion with the noble resolve of preserving its famed historic features. Modern conveniences were added like gas-lit fireplaces, king-size sleigh beds, whirlpool tubs, and double glass-walled, walk-in showers, and air conditioning. After 18 months and 7 million dollars, the grand historic mansion opened as a 21-room, award- winning luxury hotel offering guests a true taste of Southern hospitality in an unsurpassed setting. Wentworth Mansion is a must-see for history buffs and a one-of-a-kind authentic Charleston experience where patrons are immersed into luxury living and good ole Southern hospitality at its best. The year was 1998 and this was only the first phase of Widman's plans.

In 2000, Widman converted the carriage house behind the home, which once housed the stables and carriages, into Circa 1886, today a AAA Four Diamond, Forbes Four Star award-winning restaurant. In 2004, the structure that was originally used as the stable for the Mansion was renovated to house the Spa at Wentworth Mansion. The 1,000 square foot spa offers patrons a full range of treatments.

Wentworth Mansion has been named the #1 Small City Hotel in the U.S. in the 2015 Travel and Leisure World's Best Awards, #2 Best Hotel in Charleston of the Top 25 Best Hotels in the U.S. in the 2015 Condé Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards, and One of the Top 50 Hotels in the U.S. in the 2015 US News.

Amenities: Southern breakfast served from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at Circa 1886 restaurant; afternoon tea and lemonade from 2-4 p.m.; evening wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres from 5-6 p.m.

Specials and packages.

Average rates depending on room selection: August--$440-$595, January--$359-$800, April--$460-$610.

(All photos are original work except the photo of the chandeliers--courtesy of Wentworth Mansion.)

A Charleston Bed And Breakfast That Has Stood The Test Of Time

Strolling down Broad Street, you can't miss it. Standing proud and adorned in the finest iron works, the John Rutledge House has stood the test of time--with a little help. During its two hundred and fifty-two year history, it has weathered two natural catastrophes, quenched a conflagration of a great magnitude, and evaded the destructive forces of political dissension. Inspired by love, it is now a prominent, 4 diamond rated bed and breakfast.

John Rutledge was a leading figure in the countries early years. He was a delegate to the South Carolina Assembly, the Stamp Act Congress, the Continental Congress, the U.S. Constitutional Convention, where he signed Constitution, and six years the Governor of South Carolina. He built the home on Broad Street in 1763. It was a wedding gift for his young bride Elizabeth Grimke, the daughter of Charleston lawyer Frederick Grimke. Elizabeth is known in the history books for having breakfast with George Washington when he was a guest at the Rutledge House while on a Presidential visit to Charleston in 1791.

The house went through a renovation in 1853. A third floor was added at this time along with architectural enhancements, Italian marble fireplaces, parquet floors and the elaborate palmettos and eagles ironworks believed to be the work of famed nineteenth-century wrought iron manufacturer, artisan, and entrepreneur Christopher Werner.

On Dec. 11, 1861, Charleston would experience a night of terror and disaster. It would be called the Great Fire of 1861 and it consumed much of the cities famed landmarks. With the flames literally at the home's doorstep, surprisingly, it escaped the conflagration, but the building next door was completely destroyed--St. Andrews Hall was the location where the Articles of Secession were drawn up. The house did take a hit from a Union cannon ball that put a hole in the upper right side on the front.

For more than a hundred years after the Civil War, it served as a residence, office, and a school. Eventually, its hallowed halls fell silent. It remained that way for several years. Then, in 1989, an effort to return it to its former glory with a major restoration was undertaken. When completed, the beautiful inlaid floors, decorative plaster work, and welcoming staircase that was inspired by love and presented as a gift were back in place along with an array of modern conveniences and ready for the next phase of its continuing history. It opened for business as the John Rutledge House Inn.

The Inn has 19 rooms and suites, all elegantly appointed with period pieces and reproduction furniture--some suites have 12 foot ceilings and whirlpools. Two secluded carriage houses are also available. For a view overlooking Broad Street, you can sit on its piazza, and for a more intimate setting, there is the private courtyard--both ideal places to enjoy the complimentary breakfast and afternoon teas offered by the Inn
.

The rates range from $260 for a Ground Floor suite to $445 for the Grand Suite with prices in-between depending on accommodation. The Inn is pet friendly.

Surrounded by the best of Charleston, the John Rutledge House Inn is ideally outfitted for you and your family to absorb the ambiance of the cities famed hospitality and historical charm. With a glorious history of its own reaching back 252 years, for a brief moment you will live like a Charlestonian Rutledge being served the traditional afternoon tea and evening brandy. Inspired by love, it has stood the test of time.

Just a short walk down Broad Street from the John Rutledge House Inn is Fast and French.

The Number One Destination In America--My Top Eight Most Read Articles About Charleston, SC

Over five years ago, I began writing about things to see and do in the Charleston Lowcountry. During those years, the city known for its friendliness, resilience and the oldest cuisine in the United States, has soared to the honorary distinction of being chosen by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler as the number one destination in America, not just once, but for the past three years. After having spent some time here, why is undeniably clear.

Sitting on a peninsula reaching into a bay with the deepest water in the southeast, the city is surrounded by barrier islands wrapped in pristine, sandy beaches lined with beautiful vacation homes. A short, ten minute drive takes you into the heart of the one of the most walkable downtown districts in the country with more fine dining establishments per capita than any other city in the South. And if you don't want to walk, you can employ the services of one of the many bicycle rickshaws strategically located throughout. Waterfront parks, cobblestoned alleyways, historic hotels, and the friendliest people are all a part of the reasons Charleston has been selected the choice of destination for the discerning vacationer. In 2012, 4.83 million people visited Charleston.

In those five plus years, I have written 265 articles to acquaint friends, visitors and residents with the Charleston Lowcountry--its history, tours, festivals, hotels, landmarks, and restaurants. In doing so, I have only perused the book that declares the story of Charleston from Bull's Island to Edisto Island. Surprisingly, my most popular article, at 18705 reads, is a suppositional circumstance dealing with Charleston, as you will see. My blog is nearing 100,000 reads. Perhaps, you can assist me in reaching that milestone by becoming a subscriber or just a frequent visitor.

The following list, beginning with the aforementioned article, are the top eight, most read articles of Vacation Rick of Charleston.

1) Charleston, SC-Where The Sky Is The Limit in conjunction with A "Dinner In The Sky" Charleston Style-Imagine It, Dream It, Live It
Charleston is an awesome city for sightseeing. There is history at every turn of the corner and a tour dedicated to assisting you in reliving that history for a brief moment. Now, imagine yourself looking down from 165 ft in the air at all of this real estate having dinner.

2) Take A Visual Walk Into Summerville's Enchanting Past-The Landmarks And The Stories
I invite you to take an imaginative, visual walking tour by way of images from the past and present for a glance at treasured landmarks of Summerville separated only by the passing of time.


3) A Piece of Charleston History Pulled From The Ocean Dating Back To The Civil War
Its final resting place was discovered and in 2000 the Hunley was carefully and meticulously raised, still in tack, from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There are theories as to what happened to the Hunley, but no one really knows for sure what caused its demise. Scientists have been puzzling over the remains of the Hunley since its recovery, searching for clues that will assist them with providing a feasible hypothesis.

4) Summerville's Rich Theater History-From Silent Movies To Live Theater
I entered the unpretentious James F. Dean Theatre door and was more than pleasantly surprised by what I found. Summerville's theater history dates back to the early 1900's with the beginning of the silent movie era - 1894 to 1929.

5) The Husk Restaurant In Charleston-Great Southern Gourmet Experience And Beautiful Location
What is better than spending a day with a special someone? Beginning that great day with a fantastic meal at a downtown Charleston restaurant. The restaurant was the Husk on Queens Street.


6) SUPing With Coastal Expeditions On Hectic Shem Creek-A Fun Way To Spend A Day
Shem Creek was alive with watersports enthusiast and boaters. It was a typical Sunday crowd. For me, it was another suntastic day SUPing on the water. It was hot, it was humid and a nice breeze was blowing in from Charleston Bay.

7) Charleston's Barrier Islands-Beautiful Beaches, Abundant Wildlife, Great Stays, And Pleasure Packed
Visit the city of Charleston and you will be surrounded by elegance and charm at every turn of the corner, but the historic downtown district is only the cake of the Lowcountry. Step outside of Charleston and you will be covered in the frosting.

8) The Mysterious Side Of Charleston-Uncommon Things You Don't See Everyday
Charleston is charming, but also mysterious. It is renowned for its old homes and church graveyards, many with bizarre tales of ghostly encounters and things that go bump in the night.

A Park With A Beautiful Boardwalk And An Awesome Panaramic View Of What We Love About Charleston

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. In the near distance, the spires of the Ravenel Bridge rose
above the trees. The periodic ominous clouds and a rolling rumble of thunder reminded me there were storms in the area. No surprise, they were in the forecast.

Opportunistic sea gulls squawked overhead, patiently waiting to pounce on discarded bait. Pelicans cruised the surface of the waters below for any unsuspecting prey. Several dolphins playfully splashed close by.

On moored boats across the waters, shrimpers fussed with their nets while listening to music. A crane stood motionless in an opening of a weather worn structure on the tall docks. An endless succession of boats of all sizes had been parading past since my arrival. It is one of the busiest waterways flowing into Charleston Bay for recreational watercraft.

A family with young kids tended fishing rods and crab traps under the covered section at the end of the boardwalk nearby. My fishing rod was propped against the wooden rails of the long boardwalk, baited line trailing in the slow moving current. I kept one eye on the rod tip for the slightest hint of popping motion and the other eye on the groups of paddleboarders and kayakers floating past, sometimes too close to the fishing line. We were competing for the same water space.

Fellow anglers politely called out to the groups to warn them away from their line. An unsteady paddleboarder, obviously new to the experience, plunged into the water while trying to maneuver around one of the near invisible lines. I called out to him, "How's the water." A fellow paddleboader answered back, "You should jump in and find out." I was just being friendly but I believe by his response he felt inclined to defend his buddies damaged dignity.

I started a conversation with a woman on a paddleboard. I inquired, "Do you live here or are you visiting." She informed me she was from Erie, PA. "Where are you staying," I asked. "In downtown Charleston, with friends," she replied. She was joined by five other paddleboarders. She asked me to take a picture of them and send it to her email. Conversations come easy on the boardwalk. People are here to relax, have fun and enjoy the unequaled beauty of the creek's marsh scenery.

One of the angler's fishing line began to peel off his reel. It was something big. He grabbed his rod and pulled the tip back hard. The long tug of war began. Reeling it in would be a challenge with all the boats coming in and out of the creek. My guess was a stingray, which turned out to be correct when it momentarily surfaced and showed itself for verification. He battled the ray for over twenty minutes before it finally surrendered. Bringing it up onto the decking would be impossible, so he walked the fish down the boardwalk to the steel floating docks where he pulled it up, took pictures, and released it back into the rising waters.

 

These are the scenes you will see from the 2,200 foot long boardwalk that extends from its park entrance on Coleman Blvd to near the mouth of Shem Creek. It is called Shem Creek Park. The $2.5 million park and boardwalk were built and inaugurated in 2011. It includes a 250 foot floating dock where visitors can tie their boats. At the entrance of the boardwalk, you are greeted by Pete the Pelican, a 9-foot-tall sculpture covered with marine debris collected in waterways during the 2011 Beach Sweep. Pete the Pelican has been there since April of 2012.

The Charleston Water Taxis departs from the floating dock at Shem Creek Park. Visitors and locals staying or living in the Mt. Pleasant area can take the Water Taxi directly to downtown Charleston. Boats land at the Maritime Center next to Aquarium Wharf. Taxis run every hour so you can take one of their hourly boats back to your destination. Please call 843-330-2989 for pickup prices.

Shem Creek is known as "a seafood and water lover’s paradise". After a relaxing chill on the boardwalk, take the opportunity to visit one of the many restaurants and bars. The Palmetto Breeze also departs from Shem Creek.